AFCON: Ndidi attributes Osimhen-Lookman spat to “competitive attitude”

Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi responded to the on-field altercation between teammates Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Mozambique, explaining the moment as a sign of the team’s “competitive attitude.”

Osimhen : hey hey, It’s a team game, listen to me bro

Lookman: Bro you scored two, you got two

Wahala🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/wA9q1wPsTF

— EL Gran’ Osvaldo🥷 (@Vizzy_rayven) January 5, 2026

The incident occurred in the 64th minute during Monday’s dominant 4-0 Round of 16 victory at the Stade de Fès in Morocco. While leading 3-0 and preparing for a corner kick, Osimhen angrily confronted Lookman for failing to pass to him, believing he was in a better position to score.

Reacting to the incident after the match, Ndidi insisted that the clash was a result of both players’ winning mindset and desire to do more for the team.

“It’s a very competitive attitude which I like because we want more, we’re going for more. Yes, we missed so many chances, it’s just when you want more and it’s not coming so I feel I’m very happy with the attitude because everyone wants more.”

​He also added that the team will look to improve as they prepare for the quarter-final stage.

“We just celebrate this one, focus on the things we should have done better because we had so many chances, we should have combated so many chances. So it’s just going back, looking to this one and trying to correct our mistakes and we look forward to whoever comes next. The main focus is on us, it’s not who we’re meeting, the main focus is trying to improve on our game.”

 

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Nigeria took control from the start, with Lookman opening the scoring in the 20th minute. Osimhen netted a brace, and Akor Adams added the final goal in the 75th minute.

With this victory, the Super Eagles head into the next round with a boost in confidence, where they will face the winner of Tuesday’s fixture between Algeria and DR Congo on Saturday in Marrakech.